Introduction

Welcome to the home pages of Kochazhikathu.com

Welcome in the name of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on this occasion for dedication of this website Kochazhikathu.com and Home Pages of Kochazhikathu Family an ancient Suriyani christian family in kerala , India spreaded inland and abroad.

"Go ye in the world and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16: 15 (from the Holy Bible )

Inspired by this command of Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, St.Thomas one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ came to Kerala, India in AD 52 and a new faith of christianity convinced by the devine power possessed by this foreign monk. Four prominent Brahmin families accepted the new faith and were baptised by St.Thomas himself. From them the new faith of christianity spreaded all over the continent.

Family and denominations

The four prominent Brahmin families accepted the Christian faith are Kalli, Kallikavu, Pakalomattam and Sankarapuri. From them the new faith of christanity spreaded all over the continent.

Our Family members belongs to most major christian denominations like Marthoma, Jacobite, Orthodox, St.Thomas Evangelical, Catholic, Knanaya Jcobites and catholic, and different types of Penthecostal churches. It is the grace of the almighty God, and Saviour Jesus Christ that keeps this great family in his wings where ever they are.

The Turning Point of Belief

One another community also formed in Kodungalloor from the Jewish back ground in AD 345 under the leadership of Thomas of Cana (Knai Thomman) a merchant from the Southern Mesopotamia and from the Jewish community. This was the turning point of the Malabar Syrian Christians.This community consists of nearly 400 in numbers belongs to 72 families including their Bishops and Priests. Some of these families settle down in Mulanthuruthy, Kaduthuruthy, Udayamperoor and Mazhukkeer and it's nearby areas. They formed their culture and traditions, but among peacefully with others, and they were welcomed by the king Cheraman Perumal as a community. It says the King bestowed them with 72 royal previlages and recorded it in a copper plate. Till the begining of the 16th century the old Knanaya settlers of the south kerala were the members of the Old Syrian Church Chengannur. Until the historic Koonan Kurishu Sathyam(A pledge by about 25000 Syrian Christians held on to a rope tied to a leaning cross) all were Syrian Christians. From there some accepted the faith of Jacobite/Orthodox and Roman Catholic.

Origin of the Family

The family who accepted the new faith/culture and traditions moved towards south and settled in Central Travancore area and they spreaded all over the places in Chengannur, Tiruvalla , Pathanamthitta and near by areas.

This Kochazhikathu family formed in Mazhukkir a place near Chengannur and believers of Knanaya Jacobite Sabha and most of this family members are still living there, and some are again moved to south.

Mr Kurien, one of the youth of this family moved to south again and reached the northeastern part of Kollam district. The place known as " Konthitta " in between the places of 12 Muri and Panthaplave in the bank of River Kallada now in Pattazhy village, Pathanapuram taluk with his wife Mariamma and his four children Abraham, Chacko, Samuel and a daughter Mariamma in the year 1924 (Kollavarsham 1099 , the Malayalam year)

Some Known Personal Details of Mr Kurien

Mr Kurien was a nice trusted and believable person . He was a believer of Knanaya Jacobite and while he moved to the new location, the other neighbours were Marthomites, therefore he joined with them and become a member of the Marthoma Sabha. He dedicated himself to the construction of the Marthoma Church in Myladumpara along with other 4 migrated families from the Central Travancome area, in the year 1936 (kollavarsham 1111) and he was the first "ALMAYA SISHRUSHAKAN" in the church. The plot for the Church was bought by the five migrated family equally shared and registered among their names as per their age starting from first name Mr Kurien Kochazhikathu, 2nd name Mr Geevarghese Kizhekkemannil, 3rd name Mr Pathrose Puthumana and the 4th name Mr Mathunny Kaleekkal supported with his brother Kutty (KV Varghese), which the place was in Thalavoor village. That time the people who are living in pattazhy have no right to build worship places/churches in Pattazhy, becuase it is imagined of pattazhy devi's own place, and the revenue incomes/taxes all are paid to Pattazhy Devesom only, till the Kerala Assemby passed the Pattazhy special Bill in 1960. These 5 migrated families are the Originators of the Bethel Marthoma Church Myladumpara. After a period of three years this was re-registered to the property of Marthoma Sabha by these members by the 4th name to the first name as a serial. After a long period Mr. Kurien gone to the Indian Penthecostal Church. He had a talent to teach the childrens to the alphabets of Malayalam while conducting of "Asan Pallikudam".

He expired in the year 1961 and cremated in his plot where he lived then the Kudumba Veedu as per the rights and belief of the Indian penticost Church. Now it has been sold to some others by his younger son Mr Thankachan (KK Thomas). His second wife Chechamma's will and wish was to be burried her with Mr Kurien's tomb but it couldnt be done because she died when she was with her younger daughter's home in Padayanipara and cremated in the cemetery of Piravanthoor The penthecostal mission. Also Kuriens first wife Mrs. Mariamma was cremeated in the Jacobite Church Cemitery at Manjakala, Thalavoor.